World Cup Qualifying

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer revealed in the "game of (his) career" after his team's 107-run victory over Ireland in their World Cup qualifying clash in Harare on Thursday.

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying

Now or never: Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons plots the downfall of his former side West Indies in World Cup qualifying (AFP Photo/ROBYN BECK)

Friedel, Bocanegra, Henry nominated for Hall of Fame

FILE - In this June 8, 2012, file photo, United States defender Carlos Bocanegra (3) is shown during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa, Fla. Brad Friedel, Carlos Bocanegra and Thierry Henry are among first-year eligible nominated for the National Soccer Hall of Fames class of 2018. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

FILE - In this June 8, 2012, file photo, United States defender Carlos Bocanegra (3) is shown during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa, Fla. Brad Friedel, Carlos Bocanegra and Thierry Henry are among first-year eligible nominated for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2018. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

FILE - In this June 8, 2012, file photo, United States defender Carlos Bocanegra (3) is shown during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa, Fla. Brad Friedel, Carlos Bocanegra and Thierry Henry are among first-year eligible nominated for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2018. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Williams: I can’t change the opinions of previous USMNT coaches

The midfielder isn't focusing on his lack of call-ups during World Cup qualifying and is hoping to get another look against Paraguay later this month

Williams: I can’t change the opinions of previous USMNT coaches

The midfielder isn't focusing on his lack of call-ups during World Cup qualifying and is hoping to get another look against Paraguay later this month

Williams: I can’t change the opinions of previous USMNT coaches

The midfielder isn't focusing on his lack of call-ups during World Cup qualifying and is hoping to get another look against Paraguay later this month

Williams: I can’t change the opinions of previous USMNT coaches

The midfielder isn't focusing on his lack of call-ups during World Cup qualifying and is hoping to get another look against Paraguay later this month

Williams: I can’t change the opinions of previous USMNT coaches

The midfielder isn't focusing on his lack of call-ups during World Cup qualifying and is hoping to get another look against Paraguay later this month

Phil Neville's start as England women's coach: Three reasons to be positive and three causes for concern

Reasons to be positive Phil Neville has got off to an encouraging start For all the criticism that accompanied his appointment, the misgivings about his lack of managerial experience, as well as his limited knowledge of the women’s game, the clubs, the players and the opposition, Neville has got off to a good start. The results were solid, the 4-1 thrashing of France looked an even better result by the end of the tournament as the French drew with USA and thumped Germany 3-0 in their final game. England have adopted a new style of play and they are a lot more aggressive in their attacking game. To strip it down, Neville wants England to play like Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson and there is nothing wrong with that. But more importantly, Neville has fitted in well. His players have spoken positively about him, both when the microphones are on and in private, while assistant manager Casey Stoney could not have been more complimentary when asked about his impact. The players have spoken positively about Neville's impact Credit: Getty images Neville has earned everyone’s respect and he has talked well about the challenges ahead. With Stoney and former caretaker manager, Mo Marley, alongside him, his lack of specific knowledge in the women’s game should not really matter. But this is too soon to judge him. England’s defeat to the USA shows there is still a gap between themselves and the global elite. Nevertheless, things could not have gone much better for the new manager. He looks comfortable in the job and so do those around him. First hurdle overcome. The discovery of young players like Abby McManus and Keira Walsh International teams need to evolve outside of the major tournaments as senior players fade and new stars emerge. It is a constant process, as no team can stand still in between the World Cup and European Championship. So, Neville must be delighted that two of the players he brought into the squad for the SheBelieves Cup have developed so quickly and look as though they belong at this level. Keira Walsh is a ball-playing defensive midfielder, who has thrived at Manchester City this season, while City colleague, centre back Abby McManus, brings a sense of calm in possession, allied to her defensive strengths. Given Neville’s desire to be able to play out from the back, their emergence is crucial moving forward. They are both young and relatively inexperienced, but they have staked a claim to be involved for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond. The same can be said of Houston’s Rachel Daly. England might have a future global star in Mel Lawley Her final appearance against the USA was tough, but that was because the Americans were already wary, having seen her destroy the German defence in the previous game. England do not produce many footballers like this, so Lawley needs to be looked after. Her ability to glide past players with the ball at her feet is rare, as is the speed with which she moves with and without the ball. Lawley impressed on this tour Credit: AP Some of Lawley’s football against Germany fell into the sublime category and England need players like her to unlock tight defences. Lawley found it tough against the USA and got frustrated when things did not come off for her in the same way they had done against the Germans. But she has skill and quality on the ball and, as long as she continues to focus on her development, the 23-year-old could become a key player for the national team over the next 18 months. Reasons to be negative England still come up short against the very best England have not done enough to showthey have improved since the Euros. England are a good team, but look some way short of being a great one. Having lost in the semi-finals of the Euros and the World Cup, they got themselves into a position to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time and only needed a draw against USA to do so. But once again, when the pressure was on in a pivotal game, England came up short. Their third performance was easily their worst and America looked better in almost every department. England were brave, clung on in the game and might have snatched a draw late on, but as Neville admitted after, it would not have been a fair result. If England are going to win the World Cup next year, they have to be able to beat the best teams in knockout games. They have not been able to do this in the past and failed to do so again in Orlando. USA outplayed England all over the pitch Credit: AP At the moment, they need look no closer to being crowned the world’s best team – and this is their ambition – than they did before Neville took charge. Given he was offered the job because he convinced people at the FA that he was the man who could guide them over the final few steps in their pursuit of world domination, the pressure will be on when the World Cup arrives next year. The form of Lucy Bronze She is England’s best player, someone who commands respect from teammates and opposition alike. She was superb during the European Championships, just as she had been at the World Cup two years earlier and, at the age of 26, should be reaching her peak over the next two to four years. But Bronze, given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, was not her usual self in the USA. In the final game, she was all over the place, and not in a good way. Her move to Champions League holders Lyon is proof of how highly she is rated, but the full back did not shine at the SheBelieves and admitted the captaincy had involved more work than she thought. Lucy Bronze was lacking form Credit: Getty images She does not want to hold on to the skipper’s armband, but there are also concerns over her fitness. Bronze has struggled with knee problems in recent years and England have got to look after her. If Bronze plays well, England play well. She is the talisman of this team and as important as Gareth Bale is to Wales. Some of the best teams were not involved in the SheBelieves Cup Although the opposition in the USA was strong and provided England with a real test in all three fixtures, there are other teams emerging who will also challenge for the World Cup next summer. Women’s football has exploded in Holland, who beat England on their way to becoming European champions last summer. The Dutch will be among the favourites in France next year and rightly so. They are quick, strong and score a lot of goals. With the men’s team struggling, the women’s team are turning into household names in the Netherlands and will be full of confidence. When you also factor in Japan and Canada, as well as Denmark and possibly even Australia, England have a lot of competition in their bid to become the world’s best team. The problem is, after reaching two successive semi-finals, the stakes are so high. England need to at least reach a final under Phil Neville for him to have done a better job than his predecessor Mark Sampson. The former Manchester United and Everton defender was appointed because he was seen as the man who could win England a major tournament, but it is going to be extremely tough and England must get better. Their success means they are also a scalp for other teams to take and will not be under-estimated by the big teams, as they have been in the past.

Phil Neville's start as England women's coach: Three reasons to be positive and three causes for concern

Reasons to be positive Phil Neville has got off to an encouraging start For all the criticism that accompanied his appointment, the misgivings about his lack of managerial experience, as well as his limited knowledge of the women’s game, the clubs, the players and the opposition, Neville has got off to a good start. The results were solid, the 4-1 thrashing of France looked an even better result by the end of the tournament as the French drew with USA and thumped Germany 3-0 in their final game. England have adopted a new style of play and they are a lot more aggressive in their attacking game. To strip it down, Neville wants England to play like Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson and there is nothing wrong with that. But more importantly, Neville has fitted in well. His players have spoken positively about him, both when the microphones are on and in private, while assistant manager Casey Stoney could not have been more complimentary when asked about his impact. The players have spoken positively about Neville's impact Credit: Getty images Neville has earned everyone’s respect and he has talked well about the challenges ahead. With Stoney and former caretaker manager, Mo Marley, alongside him, his lack of specific knowledge in the women’s game should not really matter. But this is too soon to judge him. England’s defeat to the USA shows there is still a gap between themselves and the global elite. Nevertheless, things could not have gone much better for the new manager. He looks comfortable in the job and so do those around him. First hurdle overcome. The discovery of young players like Abby McManus and Keira Walsh International teams need to evolve outside of the major tournaments as senior players fade and new stars emerge. It is a constant process, as no team can stand still in between the World Cup and European Championship. So, Neville must be delighted that two of the players he brought into the squad for the SheBelieves Cup have developed so quickly and look as though they belong at this level. Keira Walsh is a ball-playing defensive midfielder, who has thrived at Manchester City this season, while City colleague, centre back Abby McManus, brings a sense of calm in possession, allied to her defensive strengths. Given Neville’s desire to be able to play out from the back, their emergence is crucial moving forward. They are both young and relatively inexperienced, but they have staked a claim to be involved for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond. The same can be said of Houston’s Rachel Daly. England might have a future global star in Mel Lawley Her final appearance against the USA was tough, but that was because the Americans were already wary, having seen her destroy the German defence in the previous game. England do not produce many footballers like this, so Lawley needs to be looked after. Her ability to glide past players with the ball at her feet is rare, as is the speed with which she moves with and without the ball. Lawley impressed on this tour Credit: AP Some of Lawley’s football against Germany fell into the sublime category and England need players like her to unlock tight defences. Lawley found it tough against the USA and got frustrated when things did not come off for her in the same way they had done against the Germans. But she has skill and quality on the ball and, as long as she continues to focus on her development, the 23-year-old could become a key player for the national team over the next 18 months. Reasons to be negative England still come up short against the very best England have not done enough to showthey have improved since the Euros. England are a good team, but look some way short of being a great one. Having lost in the semi-finals of the Euros and the World Cup, they got themselves into a position to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time and only needed a draw against USA to do so. But once again, when the pressure was on in a pivotal game, England came up short. Their third performance was easily their worst and America looked better in almost every department. England were brave, clung on in the game and might have snatched a draw late on, but as Neville admitted after, it would not have been a fair result. If England are going to win the World Cup next year, they have to be able to beat the best teams in knockout games. They have not been able to do this in the past and failed to do so again in Orlando. USA outplayed England all over the pitch Credit: AP At the moment, they need look no closer to being crowned the world’s best team – and this is their ambition – than they did before Neville took charge. Given he was offered the job because he convinced people at the FA that he was the man who could guide them over the final few steps in their pursuit of world domination, the pressure will be on when the World Cup arrives next year. The form of Lucy Bronze She is England’s best player, someone who commands respect from teammates and opposition alike. She was superb during the European Championships, just as she had been at the World Cup two years earlier and, at the age of 26, should be reaching her peak over the next two to four years. But Bronze, given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, was not her usual self in the USA. In the final game, she was all over the place, and not in a good way. Her move to Champions League holders Lyon is proof of how highly she is rated, but the full back did not shine at the SheBelieves and admitted the captaincy had involved more work than she thought. Lucy Bronze was lacking form Credit: Getty images She does not want to hold on to the skipper’s armband, but there are also concerns over her fitness. Bronze has struggled with knee problems in recent years and England have got to look after her. If Bronze plays well, England play well. She is the talisman of this team and as important as Gareth Bale is to Wales. Some of the best teams were not involved in the SheBelieves Cup Although the opposition in the USA was strong and provided England with a real test in all three fixtures, there are other teams emerging who will also challenge for the World Cup next summer. Women’s football has exploded in Holland, who beat England on their way to becoming European champions last summer. The Dutch will be among the favourites in France next year and rightly so. They are quick, strong and score a lot of goals. With the men’s team struggling, the women’s team are turning into household names in the Netherlands and will be full of confidence. When you also factor in Japan and Canada, as well as Denmark and possibly even Australia, England have a lot of competition in their bid to become the world’s best team. The problem is, after reaching two successive semi-finals, the stakes are so high. England need to at least reach a final under Phil Neville for him to have done a better job than his predecessor Mark Sampson. The former Manchester United and Everton defender was appointed because he was seen as the man who could win England a major tournament, but it is going to be extremely tough and England must get better. Their success means they are also a scalp for other teams to take and will not be under-estimated by the big teams, as they have been in the past.

Phil Neville's start as England women's coach: Three reasons to be positive and three causes for concern

Reasons to be positive Phil Neville has got off to an encouraging start For all the criticism that accompanied his appointment, the misgivings about his lack of managerial experience, as well as his limited knowledge of the women’s game, the clubs, the players and the opposition, Neville has got off to a good start. The results were solid, the 4-1 thrashing of France looked an even better result by the end of the tournament as the French drew with USA and thumped Germany 3-0 in their final game. England have adopted a new style of play and they are a lot more aggressive in their attacking game. To strip it down, Neville wants England to play like Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson and there is nothing wrong with that. But more importantly, Neville has fitted in well. His players have spoken positively about him, both when the microphones are on and in private, while assistant manager Casey Stoney could not have been more complimentary when asked about his impact. The players have spoken positively about Neville's impact Credit: Getty images Neville has earned everyone’s respect and he has talked well about the challenges ahead. With Stoney and former caretaker manager, Mo Marley, alongside him, his lack of specific knowledge in the women’s game should not really matter. But this is too soon to judge him. England’s defeat to the USA shows there is still a gap between themselves and the global elite. Nevertheless, things could not have gone much better for the new manager. He looks comfortable in the job and so do those around him. First hurdle overcome. The discovery of young players like Abby McManus and Keira Walsh International teams need to evolve outside of the major tournaments as senior players fade and new stars emerge. It is a constant process, as no team can stand still in between the World Cup and European Championship. So, Neville must be delighted that two of the players he brought into the squad for the SheBelieves Cup have developed so quickly and look as though they belong at this level. Keira Walsh is a ball-playing defensive midfielder, who has thrived at Manchester City this season, while City colleague, centre back Abby McManus, brings a sense of calm in possession, allied to her defensive strengths. Given Neville’s desire to be able to play out from the back, their emergence is crucial moving forward. They are both young and relatively inexperienced, but they have staked a claim to be involved for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond. The same can be said of Houston’s Rachel Daly. England might have a future global star in Mel Lawley Her final appearance against the USA was tough, but that was because the Americans were already wary, having seen her destroy the German defence in the previous game. England do not produce many footballers like this, so Lawley needs to be looked after. Her ability to glide past players with the ball at her feet is rare, as is the speed with which she moves with and without the ball. Lawley impressed on this tour Credit: AP Some of Lawley’s football against Germany fell into the sublime category and England need players like her to unlock tight defences. Lawley found it tough against the USA and got frustrated when things did not come off for her in the same way they had done against the Germans. But she has skill and quality on the ball and, as long as she continues to focus on her development, the 23-year-old could become a key player for the national team over the next 18 months. Reasons to be negative England still come up short against the very best England have not done enough to showthey have improved since the Euros. England are a good team, but look some way short of being a great one. Having lost in the semi-finals of the Euros and the World Cup, they got themselves into a position to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time and only needed a draw against USA to do so. But once again, when the pressure was on in a pivotal game, England came up short. Their third performance was easily their worst and America looked better in almost every department. England were brave, clung on in the game and might have snatched a draw late on, but as Neville admitted after, it would not have been a fair result. If England are going to win the World Cup next year, they have to be able to beat the best teams in knockout games. They have not been able to do this in the past and failed to do so again in Orlando. USA outplayed England all over the pitch Credit: AP At the moment, they need look no closer to being crowned the world’s best team – and this is their ambition – than they did before Neville took charge. Given he was offered the job because he convinced people at the FA that he was the man who could guide them over the final few steps in their pursuit of world domination, the pressure will be on when the World Cup arrives next year. The form of Lucy Bronze She is England’s best player, someone who commands respect from teammates and opposition alike. She was superb during the European Championships, just as she had been at the World Cup two years earlier and, at the age of 26, should be reaching her peak over the next two to four years. But Bronze, given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, was not her usual self in the USA. In the final game, she was all over the place, and not in a good way. Her move to Champions League holders Lyon is proof of how highly she is rated, but the full back did not shine at the SheBelieves and admitted the captaincy had involved more work than she thought. Lucy Bronze was lacking form Credit: Getty images She does not want to hold on to the skipper’s armband, but there are also concerns over her fitness. Bronze has struggled with knee problems in recent years and England have got to look after her. If Bronze plays well, England play well. She is the talisman of this team and as important as Gareth Bale is to Wales. Some of the best teams were not involved in the SheBelieves Cup Although the opposition in the USA was strong and provided England with a real test in all three fixtures, there are other teams emerging who will also challenge for the World Cup next summer. Women’s football has exploded in Holland, who beat England on their way to becoming European champions last summer. The Dutch will be among the favourites in France next year and rightly so. They are quick, strong and score a lot of goals. With the men’s team struggling, the women’s team are turning into household names in the Netherlands and will be full of confidence. When you also factor in Japan and Canada, as well as Denmark and possibly even Australia, England have a lot of competition in their bid to become the world’s best team. The problem is, after reaching two successive semi-finals, the stakes are so high. England need to at least reach a final under Phil Neville for him to have done a better job than his predecessor Mark Sampson. The former Manchester United and Everton defender was appointed because he was seen as the man who could win England a major tournament, but it is going to be extremely tough and England must get better. Their success means they are also a scalp for other teams to take and will not be under-estimated by the big teams, as they have been in the past.

Phil Neville's start as England women's coach: Three reasons to be positive and three causes for concern

Reasons to be positive Phil Neville has got off to an encouraging start For all the criticism that accompanied his appointment, the misgivings about his lack of managerial experience, as well as his limited knowledge of the women’s game, the clubs, the players and the opposition, Neville has got off to a good start. The results were solid, the 4-1 thrashing of France looked an even better result by the end of the tournament as the French drew with USA and thumped Germany 3-0 in their final game. England have adopted a new style of play and they are a lot more aggressive in their attacking game. To strip it down, Neville wants England to play like Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson and there is nothing wrong with that. But more importantly, Neville has fitted in well. His players have spoken positively about him, both when the microphones are on and in private, while assistant manager Casey Stoney could not have been more complimentary when asked about his impact. The players have spoken positively about Neville's impact Credit: Getty images Neville has earned everyone’s respect and he has talked well about the challenges ahead. With Stoney and former caretaker manager, Mo Marley, alongside him, his lack of specific knowledge in the women’s game should not really matter. But this is too soon to judge him. England’s defeat to the USA shows there is still a gap between themselves and the global elite. Nevertheless, things could not have gone much better for the new manager. He looks comfortable in the job and so do those around him. First hurdle overcome. The discovery of young players like Abby McManus and Keira Walsh International teams need to evolve outside of the major tournaments as senior players fade and new stars emerge. It is a constant process, as no team can stand still in between the World Cup and European Championship. So, Neville must be delighted that two of the players he brought into the squad for the SheBelieves Cup have developed so quickly and look as though they belong at this level. Keira Walsh is a ball-playing defensive midfielder, who has thrived at Manchester City this season, while City colleague, centre back Abby McManus, brings a sense of calm in possession, allied to her defensive strengths. Given Neville’s desire to be able to play out from the back, their emergence is crucial moving forward. They are both young and relatively inexperienced, but they have staked a claim to be involved for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond. The same can be said of Houston’s Rachel Daly. England might have a future global star in Mel Lawley Her final appearance against the USA was tough, but that was because the Americans were already wary, having seen her destroy the German defence in the previous game. England do not produce many footballers like this, so Lawley needs to be looked after. Her ability to glide past players with the ball at her feet is rare, as is the speed with which she moves with and without the ball. Lawley impressed on this tour Credit: AP Some of Lawley’s football against Germany fell into the sublime category and England need players like her to unlock tight defences. Lawley found it tough against the USA and got frustrated when things did not come off for her in the same way they had done against the Germans. But she has skill and quality on the ball and, as long as she continues to focus on her development, the 23-year-old could become a key player for the national team over the next 18 months. Reasons to be negative England still come up short against the very best England have not done enough to showthey have improved since the Euros. England are a good team, but look some way short of being a great one. Having lost in the semi-finals of the Euros and the World Cup, they got themselves into a position to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time and only needed a draw against USA to do so. But once again, when the pressure was on in a pivotal game, England came up short. Their third performance was easily their worst and America looked better in almost every department. England were brave, clung on in the game and might have snatched a draw late on, but as Neville admitted after, it would not have been a fair result. If England are going to win the World Cup next year, they have to be able to beat the best teams in knockout games. They have not been able to do this in the past and failed to do so again in Orlando. USA outplayed England all over the pitch Credit: AP At the moment, they need look no closer to being crowned the world’s best team – and this is their ambition – than they did before Neville took charge. Given he was offered the job because he convinced people at the FA that he was the man who could guide them over the final few steps in their pursuit of world domination, the pressure will be on when the World Cup arrives next year. The form of Lucy Bronze She is England’s best player, someone who commands respect from teammates and opposition alike. She was superb during the European Championships, just as she had been at the World Cup two years earlier and, at the age of 26, should be reaching her peak over the next two to four years. But Bronze, given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, was not her usual self in the USA. In the final game, she was all over the place, and not in a good way. Her move to Champions League holders Lyon is proof of how highly she is rated, but the full back did not shine at the SheBelieves and admitted the captaincy had involved more work than she thought. Lucy Bronze was lacking form Credit: Getty images She does not want to hold on to the skipper’s armband, but there are also concerns over her fitness. Bronze has struggled with knee problems in recent years and England have got to look after her. If Bronze plays well, England play well. She is the talisman of this team and as important as Gareth Bale is to Wales. Some of the best teams were not involved in the SheBelieves Cup Although the opposition in the USA was strong and provided England with a real test in all three fixtures, there are other teams emerging who will also challenge for the World Cup next summer. Women’s football has exploded in Holland, who beat England on their way to becoming European champions last summer. The Dutch will be among the favourites in France next year and rightly so. They are quick, strong and score a lot of goals. With the men’s team struggling, the women’s team are turning into household names in the Netherlands and will be full of confidence. When you also factor in Japan and Canada, as well as Denmark and possibly even Australia, England have a lot of competition in their bid to become the world’s best team. The problem is, after reaching two successive semi-finals, the stakes are so high. England need to at least reach a final under Phil Neville for him to have done a better job than his predecessor Mark Sampson. The former Manchester United and Everton defender was appointed because he was seen as the man who could win England a major tournament, but it is going to be extremely tough and England must get better. Their success means they are also a scalp for other teams to take and will not be under-estimated by the big teams, as they have been in the past.

Phil Neville's start as England women's coach: Three reasons to be positive and three causes for concern

Reasons to be positive Phil Neville has got off to an encouraging start For all the criticism that accompanied his appointment, the misgivings about his lack of managerial experience, as well as his limited knowledge of the women’s game, the clubs, the players and the opposition, Neville has got off to a good start. The results were solid, the 4-1 thrashing of France looked an even better result by the end of the tournament as the French drew with USA and thumped Germany 3-0 in their final game. England have adopted a new style of play and they are a lot more aggressive in their attacking game. To strip it down, Neville wants England to play like Manchester United did under Sir Alex Ferguson and there is nothing wrong with that. But more importantly, Neville has fitted in well. His players have spoken positively about him, both when the microphones are on and in private, while assistant manager Casey Stoney could not have been more complimentary when asked about his impact. The players have spoken positively about Neville's impact Credit: Getty images Neville has earned everyone’s respect and he has talked well about the challenges ahead. With Stoney and former caretaker manager, Mo Marley, alongside him, his lack of specific knowledge in the women’s game should not really matter. But this is too soon to judge him. England’s defeat to the USA shows there is still a gap between themselves and the global elite. Nevertheless, things could not have gone much better for the new manager. He looks comfortable in the job and so do those around him. First hurdle overcome. The discovery of young players like Abby McManus and Keira Walsh International teams need to evolve outside of the major tournaments as senior players fade and new stars emerge. It is a constant process, as no team can stand still in between the World Cup and European Championship. So, Neville must be delighted that two of the players he brought into the squad for the SheBelieves Cup have developed so quickly and look as though they belong at this level. Keira Walsh is a ball-playing defensive midfielder, who has thrived at Manchester City this season, while City colleague, centre back Abby McManus, brings a sense of calm in possession, allied to her defensive strengths. Given Neville’s desire to be able to play out from the back, their emergence is crucial moving forward. They are both young and relatively inexperienced, but they have staked a claim to be involved for the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign and beyond. The same can be said of Houston’s Rachel Daly. England might have a future global star in Mel Lawley Her final appearance against the USA was tough, but that was because the Americans were already wary, having seen her destroy the German defence in the previous game. England do not produce many footballers like this, so Lawley needs to be looked after. Her ability to glide past players with the ball at her feet is rare, as is the speed with which she moves with and without the ball. Lawley impressed on this tour Credit: AP Some of Lawley’s football against Germany fell into the sublime category and England need players like her to unlock tight defences. Lawley found it tough against the USA and got frustrated when things did not come off for her in the same way they had done against the Germans. But she has skill and quality on the ball and, as long as she continues to focus on her development, the 23-year-old could become a key player for the national team over the next 18 months. Reasons to be negative England still come up short against the very best England have not done enough to showthey have improved since the Euros. England are a good team, but look some way short of being a great one. Having lost in the semi-finals of the Euros and the World Cup, they got themselves into a position to win the SheBelieves Cup for the first time and only needed a draw against USA to do so. But once again, when the pressure was on in a pivotal game, England came up short. Their third performance was easily their worst and America looked better in almost every department. England were brave, clung on in the game and might have snatched a draw late on, but as Neville admitted after, it would not have been a fair result. If England are going to win the World Cup next year, they have to be able to beat the best teams in knockout games. They have not been able to do this in the past and failed to do so again in Orlando. USA outplayed England all over the pitch Credit: AP At the moment, they need look no closer to being crowned the world’s best team – and this is their ambition – than they did before Neville took charge. Given he was offered the job because he convinced people at the FA that he was the man who could guide them over the final few steps in their pursuit of world domination, the pressure will be on when the World Cup arrives next year. The form of Lucy Bronze She is England’s best player, someone who commands respect from teammates and opposition alike. She was superb during the European Championships, just as she had been at the World Cup two years earlier and, at the age of 26, should be reaching her peak over the next two to four years. But Bronze, given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, was not her usual self in the USA. In the final game, she was all over the place, and not in a good way. Her move to Champions League holders Lyon is proof of how highly she is rated, but the full back did not shine at the SheBelieves and admitted the captaincy had involved more work than she thought. Lucy Bronze was lacking form Credit: Getty images She does not want to hold on to the skipper’s armband, but there are also concerns over her fitness. Bronze has struggled with knee problems in recent years and England have got to look after her. If Bronze plays well, England play well. She is the talisman of this team and as important as Gareth Bale is to Wales. Some of the best teams were not involved in the SheBelieves Cup Although the opposition in the USA was strong and provided England with a real test in all three fixtures, there are other teams emerging who will also challenge for the World Cup next summer. Women’s football has exploded in Holland, who beat England on their way to becoming European champions last summer. The Dutch will be among the favourites in France next year and rightly so. They are quick, strong and score a lot of goals. With the men’s team struggling, the women’s team are turning into household names in the Netherlands and will be full of confidence. When you also factor in Japan and Canada, as well as Denmark and possibly even Australia, England have a lot of competition in their bid to become the world’s best team. The problem is, after reaching two successive semi-finals, the stakes are so high. England need to at least reach a final under Phil Neville for him to have done a better job than his predecessor Mark Sampson. The former Manchester United and Everton defender was appointed because he was seen as the man who could win England a major tournament, but it is going to be extremely tough and England must get better. Their success means they are also a scalp for other teams to take and will not be under-estimated by the big teams, as they have been in the past.

Afghan boss apologises for World Cup qualifying debacle

Afghan boss apologises for World Cup qualifying debacle

Afghan boss apologises for World Cup qualifying debacle

Afghan boss apologises for World Cup qualifying debacle

Afghanistan's World Cup Hopes All But Over After Hong Kong Loss

Afghanistan crashed to their third straight World Cup qualifying defeat at the hands of Hong Kong on Thursday, while captain Jason Holder led the West Indies to victory over Papua New Guinea.

Brathwaite and Holder star in comfortable Windies qualifying win

Carlos Brathwaite's delivery combined with Jason Holder's batting for West Indies to earn another easy World Cup qualifying win.

Nations League: Less attractive games for USMNT, Mexico

CONCACAF said the six teams in the final round of World Cup qualifying last year will proceed directly to the Nations League group phase.

Nations League: Less attractive games for USMNT, Mexico

CONCACAF said the six teams in the final round of World Cup qualifying last year will proceed directly to the Nations League group phase.

Boomers outclass Japan in Adelaide

The Australians' World Cup qualifying campaign receives another boost.

Boomers outclass Japan in Adelaide

The Australians' World Cup qualifying campaign receives another boost.

Boomers outclass Japan in Adelaide

The Australians' World Cup qualifying campaign receives another boost.

Emery: No dispute between PSG and Brazil over injured Neymar

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Neymar attends a training session in preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifying match, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Neymar will have surgery on a fractured toe in his right foot and could be out for up to three months, an estimate that would take the Brazil striker right up to the World Cup. Neymar was injured Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 in Paris Saint-Germain's match against Marseille in the French league. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Neymar attends a training session in preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifying match, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Neymar will have surgery on a fractured toe in his right foot and could be out for up to three months, an estimate that would take the Brazil striker right up to the World Cup. Neymar was injured Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 in Paris Saint-Germain's match against Marseille in the French league. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Neymar attends a training session in preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifying match, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Neymar will have surgery on a fractured toe in his right foot and could be out for up to three months, an estimate that would take the Brazil striker right up to the World Cup. Neymar was injured Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 in Paris Saint-Germain's match against Marseille in the French league. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, file)

Should SheBelieves Cup Showing Have Any Bearing on Jill Ellis's USWNT Job Safety?

The U.S. women's national team returns to action this week when it hosts the third annual SheBelieves Cup. The tournament features four of the top six teams on the planet, based on the most recent FIFA rankings, and it's a true litmus test event ahead of next summer's Women's World Cup.

No. 2 Germany, No. 3 England and No. 6 France all hit U.S. soil for the week-long competition, and during a long span on the calendar without any competitive games, this is as tough a warm-up the U.S. women will have entering CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Amid a bunch of player turnover and after the disappointment of the 2016 Olympics, the U.S. women haven't fared so well in faux-tournament settings. They finished last in the 2017 SheBelieves Cup that featured the same four teams as the upcoming competition, and they finished second to Australia in the four-team 2017 Tournament of Nations. Making matters worse, both competitions took place on U.S. soil. Would another poor showing on a tournament stage at home force U.S. Soccer to consider making a change at the top and seek another manager prior to World Cup qualifying?

WAHL: There are two tournaments in women's soccer national team-wise that really matter, that's the World Cup and the Olympics, and there's a big gap between those tournaments and any of the others, but that said, we're in a situation here now, Brian, where since Women's World Cup of 2015, the U.S. women have been in three tournaments, and they have not won any of those tournaments. Didn't win in the Olympics in 2016, last year's SheBelieves Cup did not win, got destroyed actually, four nations tournament, did not win. 'Is Jill Ellis's job in any danger?' I ask myself, and I think maybe it should be if they have a bad tournament here. I know she's had the opportunity to do some experimentation, more so last year, but I know for a fact that there's some folks inside that team that are really concerned about the direction of the U.S. women's national team. What's your sense of the U.S. women's national team these days?

STRAUS: I always think they're better than everyone else does. We had this argument during the Women's World Cup in 2015. Yes, they didn't win and got knocked out early in the Olympics, but it was on penalties, they didn't get beat, outscored. This team is so good and so consistent and so dominant that people look for trouble. They look for drama. They look for signs of weakness or fault. And I think Jill, whether or not people think it was genius or accident or something in between, she pulled the right strings at the end of the Women's World Cup in 2015. She led the U.S. to the title. And then she had, because of the way women's soccer is structured, because of the unequal kind of time, she took a very similar team to the Olympics. They lost on penalties, and then she had a couple of years to retool the team. So that's what we're in the middle of right now.

There will be Women's World Cup qualifying this fall, whether or not she wins an exhibition tournament–I think the U.S. women have lost three games in the past year. They had the two defeats back to back to England and France at the very beginning of 2017 and they lost to Australia over the summer. They've been rolling teams since then. I think this is the tempest in a teapot. When the U.S. women fail to get out of their group at the Women's World Cup, then we panic. But this team is too good and too consistent and loses far too infrequently on the big stage I think for there to be too much concern.

GW: So here's what I would say. If the U.S. doesn't win this tournament, should there be people questioning whether Jill Ellis should continue? Yes, I think there should be.

BS: Is her mandate to win this tournament?

GW: No, but I'm just saying, if you're having tournament after tournament that you're not winning and you have done what the U.S. has done before–remember, Tom Sermanni got fired based on the Algarve Cup. So, that actually turned out to be a pretty good decision, considering the U.S. won the Women's World Cup a year later, but Ellis came in a year before. This is basically the same equivalent tournament as the Algarve Cup was for Tom Sermanni.

BS: Did he get fired because he didn't win that tournament? Or because he lost the support and faith of the real power brokers in that locker room?

GW: Both. It's a complex story. I guess what I would say is, even if they fall flat on their face in this tournament, I don't think Jill Ellis is going anywhere. I think you have a new president, Carlos Cordeiro, who is already trying to fill the U.S. men's national team job, who is already trying to fill this open GM job for both the men and the women, and I don't think he wants to have a vacancy that he has to fill for his other senior national team coach on the women's side, so I just don't see that sort of thing happening even if they're terrible.

BS: Again, you could call it a tournament, I mean SheBelieves is a cool initiative by U.S. Soccer, and it's about more things than just the collection of games, but it's still not an official competition. These are friendlies that we're talking about. And we can say that women's soccer has too many friendlies and that the structure of the official competitions doesn't put the team in position to play enough competitive matches and face the scrutiny and pressure that those matches would bring, but this is the structure of the sport right now. She won the Women's World Cup title, she won what, 5-2 in the final ... and she's been coaching friendlies for the past couple years.

It seems a like a lot of the power brokers that were there on that team and that perhaps were itching for Sermanni's ouster, they're not so much around anymore. So the team has gotten much younger, and there's a lot of players in there who owe their chances to Jill Ellis, and who weren't part of the team that had the big, big personalities of the cycle that concluded in 2015 and 2016. So you would think there would have to be an open revolt in that locker room for her to lose her job over the result of a few friendlies. There'd have to be an open revolt.

Afghanistan suffered a blow ahead of their 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign Monday when captain Asghar Stanikzai was ruled out of the start of the tournament after undergoing surgery to have his appendix removed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced.

Afghanistan suffered a blow ahead of their 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign Monday when captain Asghar Stanikzai was ruled out of the start of the tournament after undergoing surgery to have his appendix removed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced.

Italy coach says he convinced Buffon to extend career

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to fans at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off first leg soccer match between Sweden and Italy, at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

Italy coach says he convinced Buffon to extend career

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts to his team's elimination as Sweden players celebrate, rear, at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts to his team's elimination as Sweden players celebrate, rear, at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts to his team's elimination as Sweden players celebrate, rear, at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to fans at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off first leg soccer match between Sweden and Italy, at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 file photo, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to fans at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off first leg soccer match between Sweden and Italy, at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Gianluigi Buffon's international career might not be done after all. Interim Italy coach Luigi Di Biagio believes he has convinced the 40-year-old goalkeeper to stay on for friendlies against Argentina and England next month. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)